SEEKING THE FIRE

SEEKING THE FIRE


http://www.prosportsdaily.com/comments/seeking-the-fire-392792.html


"On the cusp of their 2010 training camp Thursday, the Saints only touched on the fact they want to prove they are a great team and not just one that had a great season. After a magical 2009 season in which the Saints won Super Bowl XLIV, the team must replicate the intensity of last season, team officials said, and assume nothing will come easily in its defense. "I think more than anything else, I'm looking to see how we handle success," General Manager Mickey Loomis said after the players reported for two-a-day practices that begin today. "What's our work ethic? What's the level of intensity during this training camp as compared to last? Last year, I felt like the intensity at training"

Deal Is Done: Rams, Bradford Agree To Terms

Deal Is Done: Rams, Bradford Agree To Terms


http://www.prosportsdaily.com/comments/deal-is-done-rams-bradford-
agree-to-terms-392918.html


"Sam's a Ram. A Ram with a contract, that is. Just in time for the first full-squad practice of training camp, the Rams have struck a deal with No. 1 overall draft pick Sam Bradford, the quarterback from the University of Oklahoma. The Post-Dispatch confirmed that Bradford will receive $78 million over six years, with a contract that could max out at $86 million. A total of $50 million is guaranteed, all of which makes it the richest rookie contract ever in NFL history. In other words, more money than the $72 million deal over six years that Georgia quarterback Matthew Stafford signed with the Detroit Lions last season. After missing two days of training camp practices Thursday and Friday _"

Ted Lilly, Ryan Theriot to Dodgers

By Tristan H. Cockcroft

ESPN.com

http://sports.espn.go.com/fantasy/baseball/flb/story?id=5426501

Having tried five different pitchers in their fifth-starter role, including three from the beginning of July alone, the Los Angeles Dodgers finally made a move Saturday to bring some stability to the back of their rotation, acquiring Ted Lilly from the Chicago Cubs in a five-player deal.

First, to be fair, let's not call Lilly "fifth-starter" fodder; in terms of talent he's probably their new three/four, so in essence the Dodgers acquired him and can push Vicente Padilla and perhaps Hiroki Kuroda each back a spot in the rotation. But let's not get caught up in semantics, shall we?

Important is that Lilly gives the Dodgers four solid veterans plus a 22-year-old ace (Clayton Kershaw). Plus, the addition of Ryan Theriot at second base, replacing Blake DeWitt, who was shipped to the Windy City, could also be considered an upgrade, depending upon your opinion of their defensive contributions. However, when it comes to fantasy, it doesn't result in as huge value shifts as you'd think.

LSU football: Tigers get commitment from Texas DB David Jenkins

LSU football: Tigers get commitment from Texas DB David Jenkins

By Jim Kleinpeter, The Times Picayune

http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2010/07/lsu_football_tigers_get_commit_1.html

BATON ROUGE, La. - LSU received its 15th recruiting committment and second in two days as defensive back David Jenkins of Hebron High School in Carrollton, Texas, pledged for the class of 2011. Jenkins who is 6-feet-1, and 190 pounds, is the No. 51 rated cornerback in the nation and a three-star prospect by Scout.com.

Notes on New Orleans Saints Saturday morning practice

Notes on New Orleans Saints Saturday morning practice

By James Varney, The Times-Picayune

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2010/07/notes_on_new_orleans_saints_sa.html

Observations from the morning workout

Devery Henderson comes up gimping while running route, continues to practice

Devery Henderson comes up gimping while running route, continues to practice

By Robert Stewart, The Times-Picayune

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2010/07/devery_henderson_comes_up_gimp.html

He continued to practice after the situation

New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey has an animated practice

New Orleans Saints tight end Jeremy Shockey has an animated practice

By James Varney, The Times-Picayune  

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2010/07/new_orleans_saints_tight_end_j_15.html

The tight end played to the crowd during the scrimmages

 

To the End of July.....

Friday was a decent day.  As the last business day of the month, it was payday for me.  I had to make a trip to my banking institution, then I had to go to the Tax Collector's office and get my car tag renewed - what fun!  Actually, it wasn't all that bad.  I walked in and was back out of there in under 10 minutes.  On top of that, I was able to find a metered parking space almost directly in front of the Hinds County Courthouse.  This was highly unusual in my experience.  

I returned to work after these errands, then later had a quick lunch with a co-worker.  When I left work, I stopped for the mail - it was nothing but junk.  At least there were no bills!!  Then I went by and picked up my prescriptions and got a few grocery items.  

When I made it home, my housemate was there doing laundry in anticipation of her daughter and grandsons' arrival.  They were spending the night and then catching a flight out of the country on vacation.  

I had supper and then helped my housemate with some things. I was already in bed and asleep by the time they got to the house.  They were still asleep when I left for work this morning.  

I didn't realize one of the boys was sleeping on the couch in the den; I think he wasn't too happy with me for coming in and turning the lights on to go ahead with my breakfast routine.  Had I known he was sleeping in there, I would've skipped breakfast at home and gotten ready and stopped somewhere and got something - but I had no idea.  By the time I discovered he was there, I already had my breakfast made and was sitting down to eat it.

Today has been a mix - we were busy earlier, but now things are quiet.  I hope they'll stay that way till I leave this evening, as I'm off tomorrow.

NCAA rules LSU signee Wing eligible

By RANDY ROSETTA Advocate sportswriter 

http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/99677369.html

After spending a long summer waiting and wondering, LSU football recruit Brad Wing had no idea what to expect when the NCAA Clearinghouse reached a decision.

So when his cell phone rang early Friday morning and the Australian-born Wing saw LSU assistant coach Joe Robinson’s name pop up on the caller ID, he took a deep breath.

The 6-foot-3, 200-pound punter heard what he wanted.

“I said hello and he told me right away I was cleared to play,” said Wing, who earned Class 3A all-state honors at Parkview Baptist last fall as a foreign exchange student. “I was silent for a long time because at first I thought he was joking, but then he was so excited, I knew he was serious.

“This is something I’ve been praying and dreaming about and hoping it would happen all summer long. It’s a huge relief, and now I’m ready to get to LSU and play football.”

Wing’s summer of drama was the result of questions about his academic record and whether his course work in Australia met the NCAA’s standards for eligibility.

Staying grounded

Porter keeps level head after big plays last season

 

By SHELDON MICKLES Advocate sportswriter 

http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/99677384.html

METAIRIE — After the dream season he and the New Orleans Saints had in 2009, it would have been easy for cornerback Tracy Porter to walk around with his head in the clouds this offseason.

On top of winning Super Bowl XLIV, Porter came up with two plays that rank as two of the biggest in franchise history with interceptions of future Pro Football Hall of Famers Brett Favre and Peyton Manning.

The first kept the Minnesota Vikings from winning the NFC title in regulation and the second, which Porter returned 74 yards for a touchdown, clinched the Saints’ 31-17 win over the Indianapolis Colts in the Super Bowl.

Those two wins were followed by a grand celebration in his hometown of Port Allen. It included a gala parade and ceremonies in which he had his high school jersey retired and a street named after him.

That would normally be pretty heady stuff for most third-year players, who would have soaked in the star treatment. But not Porter, who simply decided to enjoy the moment during a whirlwind 5‰ months since the Super Bowl.

“It comes with the territory,” the soft-spoken Porter said after the Saints opened training camp Friday morning. “When you make big plays on the big stage, a lot of people are going to notice you. A lot of people are going to become fans of you if they aren’t already and that was a blessing to me.

“I took it for what it’s worth, but this is a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league,” he said. “That’s all in the past. They want to see what you’re going to do in training camp and this season.”

New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton expects tough training camp for 2010

New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton expects tough training camp for 2010

Published: Friday, July 30, 2010, 12:18 PM     Updated: Friday, July 30, 2010, 12:20 PM

Robert Stewart, The Times-Picayune

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2010/07/new_orleans_saints_coach_sean_92.html

Even after deciding to move two afternoon practices indoors, Saints Coach Sean Payton expects his players to get ready to work hard in training camp.


Payton said Friday morning he expects this camp to be a tough one, even though he moved the afternoon practices for Friday and Saturday from outdoors to indoors.

"We're getting these guys accustomed to carrying their gear. I thought it was a pretty good first (practice)," Payton said. "We have a lot of work to do, but it was a good start."

Defending champs start training camp today

Defending champs start training camp today

 By LES EAST

 Special to The Advocate

http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/99603644.html

METAIRIE — A New Orleans Saints training camp unlike any other gets under way today when the team begins training camp as defending Super Bowl champions for the first time.


It has been 172 days since the Saints defeated the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 to win Super Bowl XLIV, but now all 32 NFL teams are on equal footing.



“The process has to begin again and it doesn’t pick up where you left off,” coach Sean Payton said Thursday. “I think identifying those challenges (to repeating) is one thing and that attacking them is another. That’s where we start.



“The focus goes all the way back to Day 1 install (today). We know it’s going to be hot. I think that this time of the year is a chance to get back to all the specifics and our players and our coaches are ready for this training camp to begin. So here we go.”


Both of today’s workouts, which begin at 8:50 a.m. and 4:20 p.m., are scheduled for the team’s outdoor practice field and are open to the public, weather permitting.

Miles' pinch-hitters help close LSU's 2010 Tiger Tour

Miles' pinch-hitters help close LSU's 2010 Tiger Tour

By Scott Hotard

Advocate sportswriter

http://www.2theadvocate.com/sports/99603594.html

The final stop on the Tiger Tour looked much like the first nine.


The most popular colors were purple and gold. The items at the silent auction included the usual assortment of autographed jerseys, helmets, sneakers and baseball bats.


But this time, there was no Les Miles, the traditional star of LSU’s annual fundraising caravan.


“Les called me this morning, and we had something come up,” LSU Athletic Director Joe Alleva said. “He had to go out of town. He asked my permission, and I told him to go ahead. He had to go. It was important that he go do it.”


Even without the enthusiastic Miles pumping spirit into the crowd, the pep rally that is the Tiger Tour made it home Thursday night.


Offensive coordinator Gary Crowton, running backs coach/recruiting coordinator Frank Wilson and defensive backs coach Ron Cooper zipped across campus to pinch hit.

Josephus Update....

I haven't mentioned anything about Josephus in a while.  I've actually missed the last 2 class meetings.  I received an e-mail recently from the pastor who is the leader of the study.  


He said that now that we have gotten through Book VII of The Antiquities of the Jews, the group is going to pause there and the next reading assignment will, instead, be the parallel passages in the Bible.


The assignment consists of:


Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings 1-2


The next class meeting date is Tuesday, August 31st.


I've found it hard to stay with Josephus - although reading The Antiquities was a little easier.  


I think I'll find it easier to read the Bible passages assigned - and I seem to have reverted back to the NIV translation - hence the use of NIV in my user name.  Not sure how soon I'll start - possibly Friday or Saturday.  I'll try to post updates on how I'm doing with the reading assignment.  


Goodnight!

LSU Baseball 2011 Season Schedule

2011 Schedule - Baseball

http://www.lsusports.net/SportSelect.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=5200&SPID=2173&SPSID=27866

Thursday Update....

It has been a quiet afternoon.  I stopped at the post office en route to work and picked up the mail.  I also got a book of stamps for a co-worker.  Then when I got to work, I took a walk to the nearby McAlister's Deli and took part in the "Free Tea Day" promotion.  I also got some samples of menu items and a chocolate chip cookie.  

In my mail was the invitation to my cousin's wedding at the end of August.  I also had a pair of complimentary meal passes from a local restaurant and a few other items.  

Tomorrow is payday; I've got my checkbook figured out and updated.  Not that I like the results, but it's something I had to do.  If it weren't for having to pay bills, I'd be in great shape.  But then, wouldn't we all?!  

Supposedly we had a 40% chance of rain today, but it didn't materialize.  Now heat is back in the forecast.  Not at all what I'd like to see.

Feeling no heat

Relaxed Miles speaks at Baton Rouge Rotary Club 

 

By RANDY ROSETTA
Advocate sportswriter 

Pressure? What pressure?

If LSU coach Les Miles is feeling the heat as he heads into his sixth season in Baton Rouge, he wasn’t showing it Wednesday.

Speaking to the Rotary Club of Baton Rouge, he was relaxed and confident as he talked about the 2010 Tigers.

When a makeshift brass band plus a solo drummer broke into “Hey Fightin’ Tigers” and most of those in the stuffed-full banquet room at Boudreaux’s started signing along, Miles wasn’t bashful.

The LSU coach mouthed the words with the band and the audience as well, looking like anything but a coach feeling added pressure.

New Orleans Saints' Sean Payton's press conference transcript 7/29/2010

Published: Thursday, July 29, 2010, 4:21 PM     Updated: Thursday, July 29, 2010, 4:22 PM

The Times-Picayune 

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2010/07/new_orleans_saints_sean_payton_2.html

New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton's Thursday press conference transcript, provided by the team's communications staff.

 

Another Update from Today....

We have gotten some much needed rain this afternoon.  Of course we could use more as we are somewhat behind our average for this point in the year.  Channel 3's Eric Law is calling for temperatures in the upper 90s and even low 100s with very low chances for rain over the next several days.  

Rusty got a bit lively this afternoon when he started sensing the barometric pressure dropping - meaning the storms were moving in.  I heard thunder and so I brought him in the house and he settled down.  However, I went ahead and put him in my housemate's bathroom - after talking with her about doing it.  

The present temperature is 79 with a heat index of 86 degrees. In my bedroom, it's a very comfortable 75.6 degrees.  Since we installed the "cat fence" and have been able to leave that hallway door open for air to circulate, the temperatures have been staying comfortable in the hallway and here in my bedroom.

Thursday is "free tea day" from McAlister's Deli.  I plan on stopping by a McAlister's location en route to work and get a free tea - and maybe a chocolate chip cookie.  I love those too!

Sukiey is snoozing away on my bed - she is the sleepingest cat I've ever seen. I've tickled her some this afternoon.  She acts like she hates it, but she really does love it.  

Not much else is going on to share with you....

Another year, another NFL season loaded with Louisiana talent

Another year, another NFL season loaded with Louisiana talent

http://www.neworleans.com/mobile-sports/mobile-prep-sports/442244-another-year-another-nfl-loaded-with-louisiana-talent.html

The state of Louisiana is renowned for producing talent that reaches the NFL. And not just average talent, but All-Pro type calibur performers.

The Crescent City has been loaded with players who sharpened their skills in the prep ranks before moving onto pro football.

An example of the state's impressive production of top-level players is exhibited by the fact that the Pelican state has at least one representative on each NFL team. There are 114 Louisiana-grown players set to open camp in August on NFL rosters.

The Washington Redskins and the Pittsburgh Steelers lead the league in players from this state with 7 a piece followed by the Buffalo Bills with 6 players. The Chargers, Chiefs, Jaguars and Broncos all have 5. The Saints have 4 players from Louisiana: Randall Gay, Devery Henderson, Al Woods and Tracy Porter.

The LSU Tigers are always been featured prominently throughout the league. Five former Tigers will suit up for camp with the Chiefs (Dwayne Bowe, Rudy Niswanger, Glenn Dorsey, Travis Daniels and Tyson Jackson) The Chargers, Saints, Bengals, Redskins, Cowboys and Falcons all have 3 ex-Tigers on their preseason rosters.

New Orleans historically has stocked NFL rosters with outstanding former prep stars from the Metro area. Players like Marshall Faulk, Aeneas Williams and Louis Lipps are just an example of the All-Pro quality displayed under the Louisiana lights every Friday night during the fall. This season, 37 former prep stars are sprinkled on NFL rosters as camps open within the next few days league-wide.

Coach Payton makes book-signing debut

Saints mentor a hit with the crowd

By Mike Pervel
St. Tammany News
Published on Wednesday, July 28, 2010 12:23 AM CDT

http://www.thesttammanynews.com/articles/2010/07/28/sports/doc4c4f59377b942146174247.txt

New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton, the author of “Home Team” made a guest book signing appearance Monday evening at the Mandeville Barnes & Noble Booksellers store. The enthusiastic and beloved fan base crammed into the store to get the Super Bowl champion author’s autograph. In the book, coach Payton describes the team’s Super Bowl victory, which raised the city’s spirits for years after Hurricane Katrina.

Coach Payton, a Northshore resident, was definitely up to the challenge as he signed an unspecified number of his books for delighted fans, who were privileged to be in that number after doing their fare share of waiting in line.

“It was our first book signing, and I was just real encouraged with all the people that came out and waited. Barnes & Noble did a great job. It went very smooth. It was exciting. It was good to really get back here and it was the first opportunity for us to sign for so many of these people (fans), who have read the book,” Payton said.  As the book signing was about to get underway Monday someone mentioned to the coach that his quarterback Drew Brees had made 19 book signing appearances throughout the area for his book, “Coming Back Stronger.”

Coach Payton, a great orchestrator of X’s and O’s, got a gleam in his eye and said let’s get it done to see if we can put a dent in Drew’s lead.

You could just see the coach’s passion and competitive spirit unfolding.

“Drew and I have exchanged some texts. I believe he has done about 19 or 20 signings for his book. I’ve kind of lost track,” Payton said.

“We’re just kind of dabbling right now with this initial signing.”

Payton talked about the joy he got from the signing event.

“I’d guess and say we were pretty close to 3,000 signatures or somewhere in that vicinity. My hand’s a little sore, but not that bad,” coach Payton said.

New Orleans Saints agree to terms with veteran quarterback Patrick Ramsey, rookie tight end Jimmy Graham

Published: Wednesday, July 28, 2010, 2:45 PM     Updated: Wednesday, July 28, 2010, 3:07 PM

Mike Triplett, The Times-Picayune

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2010/07/new_orleans_saints_

agree_to_te_1.html

The New Orleans Saints announced that they have agreed to terms with free agent quarterback Patrick Ramsey (one-year deal) and third-round draft choice Jimmy Graham (four years). Financial terms were not disclosed.

Ramsey, 31, is expected to compete with second-year pro Chase Daniel for the backup job behind Drew Brees. The addition of the former Tulane standout has been long anticipated, but the Saints weren't allowed to add any more unrestricted free agents before last week because of new league rules put in place this year.

Ramsey, 6-2 and 225 pounds, was a first-round draft pick of the Washington Redskins in 2002, though he has spent the majority of his career as a journeyman backup. In nine NFL seasons, the Ruston native has passed for 5,930 yards, 35 touchdowns and 30 interceptions, playing for the Redskins, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Tennessee Titans and Detroit Lions. Ramsey spent last season as a backup with the Titans before being released in October and signing with the Lions in December, when No. 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford was placed on injured reserve.

Favre Jokes About Playing 'Til He's 50

Favre Jokes About Playing 'Til He's 50
Minneapolis Star Tribune


http://www.prosportsdaily.com/comments/favre-jokes-about-playing-til-hes-50-391767.html


"Brett Favre seemed to be joking during an interview that appeared in USA Today on Tuesday, but then again considering the quarterback's wavering ways, maybe he really will attempt to play at the age of 50. "If you do enough patchwork, eventually you've got to get a new one," Favre told the paper, laughing about the fact he has had three surgeries on his left ankle during the course of his 19-year NFL career. "You gotta quit sometime. Then again, maybe I will be doing this when I'm 50 years old, who knows?" Favre, who will turn 41 on Oct. 10, hasn't announced whether he will play this season.

If '04 national champ USC can't keep title, BCS says no one will

I'm not a fan of Tommy Tuberville, but I agree with his take on this....if they strip USC of the BCS title from 2004, then award it to another team - possibly even Auburn, which went undefeated.
If '04 national champ USC can't keep title, BCS says no one will


By Jeff Miller, Special for USA TODAY


http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/2010-07-27-USC-title-vacant_N.htm

IRVING, Texas — If Southern California's appeal of NCAA penalties levied last month is denied, Bowl Championship Series executive director Bill Hancock said Tuesday that the 2004 BCS title would be left vacant.

"The feeling in our group, the commissioners group, is there was not a game, no game happened," Hancock said at the Big 12 Conference's preseason football news media sessions.

Auburn finished second in 2004, but Hancock said BCS policy only covered vacating a championship.

The NCAA gave USC a two-year bowl ban and stripped it of wins in the 2004 and '05 seasons because of improper benefits, some involving '05 Heisman winner Reggie Bush. The appeal could be ruled on as soon as early October.

The 2004 title was decided in the Orange Bowl, No. 1 USC routing No. 2 Oklahoma 55-19. Unbeaten Auburn, No. 3 going into the bowls, beat Virginia Tech 16-13 in the Sugar Bowl.

Auburn's coach then was Tommy Tuberville. He's now at Texas Tech and spoke at Tuesday's Big 12 session just before Hancock. His take on what should happen if USC had to relinquish the title was far different from Hancock's.

"Give it to somebody, because there are other teams that did the right things," said Tuberville, who left Auburn after the 2008 season and was hired by Tech in January.

Utah was the third unbeaten left in what was then known as Division I-A. It beat Pittsburgh 35-7 in the Fiesta Bowl.

"Why in the world would you not give it to somebody?" Tuberville said. "Oklahoma? Us? Utah? It doesn't make any sense."

Rosetta: Taking a look into my crystal ball for 2010

I disagree with most of Randy's predictions.  Naturally, I want LSU to go undefeated and win the BCS National Championship in January, 2011 like the Alabama Crimson Tide did this year.  Realistically, though, that's not likely to happen. 

Out of the SEC games on the schedule, the ones I consider "must win":

Vanderbilt

Mississippi State

Tennessee

Florida

Auburn

Alabama

Ole Miss

Arkansas 

In other words, they have to go 8-0 in those games!!  Now here's Randy's say...

Rosetta: Taking a look into my crystal ball for 2010

• By RANDY ROSETTA
• Advocate sportswriter

http://www.2theadvocate.com/columnists/99438734.html?index=1&c=y

OK, conference football media days are in full gear, LSU coach Les Miles is almost finished on the rubber chicken circuit and the police blotters in a handful of Southeastern Conference cities (and Tallahassee, Fla.) have finally quieted down.

So that’s got to mean the 2010 football season is getting closer, right?

Before Smiley Anders gets his swings in, here is one man’s peek at the crystal ball for the Tigers’ season.

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton hands out boxes of food to oil spill families in Venice

New Orleans Saints coach Sean Payton hands out boxes of food to oil spill families in Venice

http://www.nola.com/news/gulf-oil-spill/index.ssf/2010/07/new_orleans_saints_coach_sean.html

'The real thing we're about today is hope. Letting people know they are not forgotten,' Payton said.

Former LSU star and New York Giants player Chad Jones has returned to New Orleans

Robert Stewart, The Times-Picayune

http://www.nola.com/lsu/index.ssf/2010/07/former_lsu_star_and_new

_york_g.html

New York Giants rookie safety Chad Jones, a former LSU football standout, was released from a New York hospital and has returned to New Orleans, the Giants announced Tuesday.

Jones had been in the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan since June 29 after suffering serious leg injuries when he crashed his SUV on June 25 in New Orleans. After the crash, Jones underwent nearly eight hours of surgery at the Interim LSU Public Hospital in New Orleans and spent several days there before being transferred to New York.

Jones will rest in New Orleans for six to eight weeks and will return to New York for more procedures, according to the Giants.

July Winding Down....

That's right - July is winding down!  Saturday is the last day of the month, but Friday is the last business day of the month - so there are 3 business days left [counting today].  


Okay, I promised an update on Rusty's status....


My housemate picked him up from the vet after work and brought him home.  She said that the vet told her that the x-ray they did was negative - he didn't see any problems with Rusty's shoulders or paws.  He did give him a shot - of cortisone, I think.  Plus he gave my housemate a prescription of anti-inflammatory pills to give him.  She said that he told her that once Rusty has completed taking the prescription, if he's not any better to bring him back and he will do a sedated x-ray to see if he can figure out what's going on.


Rusty pretty much slept the remainder of the evening - she left him in the den while she went to work out.  That's not something she usually does - she usually puts him out on the patio when neither of us are going to be in the den to "supervise" him, but since he was more or less "out of it" she didn't think he would get into anything while she was gone - and he didn't.  She did put him back out there at bedtime, though.


This morning I got up before she left and was eating breakfast as she was finishing up getting ready to leave.  She put some more food and fresh water out there for him.  I was reading the newspaper while eating breakfast and found a full page ad from Wal*Mart and it had those 3 prong folders like I use every year to make my family's yearly calendar in there for 10 cents each.  It was a "back to school" ad.  


I finished eating, cleaned up behind myself, then went and took a shower and got dressed, grabbed my wallet and car keys and headed out to the nearest Wal*Mart.  I got there and inside the store, then had some difficulty finding the folders that were on sale.  I found some that were marked 15 cents; the person helping me insisted that was the price - he claimed to know nothing about the newspaper ad.  


I got 30 of the folders with the prongs and went on to get a few other items and then grabbed a copy of the newspaper off of the rack and took it with me to the checkout.  I showed the cashier the ad and she got someone to verify and come to find out, the ones that I had were indeed on sale for 10 cents each.  They had to go get another of the folders because a mishap took place.  


I got checked out and had to wait till they brought a replacement folder!  Then I left the store and headed for home.  I got everything put away and am now doing laundry.  


I told my housemate I would check on Rusty during the day.  Right now he's in his doghouse sleeping.  He hasn't eaten the food that she put out for him this morning.  She did get one of the pills down him, though.  


This is about all I have for the present time as far as an update!